SIG Sauer has just announced that the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has completed safety certification and purchased the SIG MG 338 machine guns. The certification includes the SIG Sauer .338 Norma Mag ammunition and next-generation silencers.
“The safety certification of the complete SIG SAUER MG 338 system and delivery of the system to USSOCOM is historically very significant. For the first time in decades the U.S. Military certified a new machine gun, ammunition, and suppressor at the same time, bringing new innovation, portability, and increased lethality to our ground forces, with all components coming from one company,” began Ron Cohen, President and CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc. “This certification was achieved following the outstanding performance of the complete MG 338 system through the rigors of the extensive function, durability, and safety tests set forth by USSOCOM.”
The MG 338 bridges the gap between machine guns currently used by US forces. Compared to the M240 (7.62 x 51 mm), the MG 338 provides much greater range and efficiency. Compared to the M2 .50 inch (which is in service for nearly 110 years), the MG 338 weighs ¾ less, offering greater mobility with a similar effective range to the legendary Ma Deuce. In addition, the new generation SIG silencers significantly reduce the effects of harmful toxic fumes and reduce the heat signature, making the weapon operator harder to detect.
The MG 338 machine gun weighs less than 20 pounds and is chambered for the .338 Norma Magnum round. The new Sig's MG uses a short stroke gas piston system, a patented recoil reduction system, a free-floating, quick change barrel, double-sided manipulators and a replaceable ammunition feeder.
The charging handle can be mounted on the left or on the right, depending on the shooter's preferences. The abovementioned features allow for quick replacement of the system and its adaptation, if necessary, to the 7.62 × 51 mm round.
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Source: tactical-life.com, thefirearmblog.com,
